Physics Schools and Programs in Chile

Physics Studies in Chile

Physics in Chile is a university subject. The first degree is the licenciatura, an academic degree that takes four to five years, and some universities combine it with a professional title in engineering physics. Teaching is in Spanish. The country's astronomical observatories and its mining industry give the subject two areas of application that appear in several degree programmes.

SpainExchange lists 6 schools in Chile with physics programmes: three in Valparaíso, two in Santiago and one in Concepción. All six are universities, which matters because, according to the Ministry of Education's Mi Futuro portal, only universities can award all academic degrees (licenciado, magíster and doctor). The portal counts 58 universities in the Chilean system.

How the degree is organised

Chilean universities award academic degrees (licenciado, magíster, doctor) and professional titles. A physics student can follow one of two routes:

• a science degree, the Licenciatura en Física, which prepares for research and postgraduate study
• an engineering-style programme that adds a professional title, such as Ingeniero Físico or Ingeniero Civil Físico

The length depends on the route. The Licenciatura en Física lasts 8 semesters at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (USM), the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) and the Universidad de Valparaíso (UV), and 9 semesters at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile). Programmes with a professional title are longer: Ingeniería Civil Física at the USM takes 5 years, Ciencias Físicas at the Universidad de Concepción (UdeC) 6 years and Ingeniería Física at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Usach) 12 semesters.

A magíster requires a licenciado degree or an equivalent professional title, and a doctorate ends with the defence of a thesis. The USM, for example, offers a Magíster en Ciencias, mención Física, and a Doctorado en Ciencias Físicas run jointly with the PUCV.

Where physics is taught

• Valparaíso: the UV offers a Licenciatura en Física with three specialisations (astronomy, atmospheric sciences and scientific computing); the atmospheric sciences option can lead to the professional title of meteorologist. The PUCV has a Licenciatura en Física that can also be taken with a specialisation in astronomy. The USM teaches its Licenciatura en Física and Ingeniería Civil Física at its Casa Central campus in Valparaíso and at the San Joaquín campus in Santiago.
• Santiago: UC Chile teaches its physics degree (Bachiller/Licenciado en Física) at the San Joaquín campus and lists research areas such as high-energy physics, medical physics, plasma physics, condensed matter and quantum optics. The Usach offers Ingeniería Física, with the degree of Licenciado en Física Aplicada and the title of Ingeniero Físico.
• Concepción: the UdeC programme in Ciencias Físicas leads to the degree of Licenciado en Ciencias Físicas and the professional title of Físico or Ingeniero Físico; students choose the specialisation from the ninth semester.

Admission and language

The first requirement is a secondary school-leaving certificate (licencia de Enseñanza Media). It can be obtained in Chile or abroad, but a foreign certificate must be recognised by the Ministry of Education. Each university sets its own entry requirements. The universities of the Council of Rectors and several private universities share a selection system based on the national entrance test, the PAES. Physics programmes give most weight to mathematics: the USM, for example, requires the second mathematics test (PAES M2) for its physics degree.

Applicants who finished school outside Chile should look at the special admission routes. UC Chile and the UV both list a route for applicants with secondary studies abroad. Degree courses are taught in Spanish, so a good command of the language is needed from the first semester.

Foreign students apply for a temporary residence permit for students (Residencia Temporal). According to the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (page updated on 18 December 2025), the application is made online from abroad. The documents include a valid passport, a criminal record certificate, a certificate of enrolment and proof of financial support.

Costs and quality

The annual tuition fee (arancel) is set by each university and each programme. Published fees for the 2026 admission year include CLP 5,980,000 for physics at UC Chile, CLP 6,251,000 for Ingeniería Física at the Usach and CLP 6,769,301 for Ciencias Físicas at the UdeC. At the UV the 2026 fee is CLP 4,849,000 for students in the highest income decile, plus an enrolment fee of CLP 226,000.

Quality is checked by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (CNA). Institutional accreditation has been compulsory since 2020 and is granted for 3 to 7 years.

Careers

The universities describe two main paths. The licenciatura leads to postgraduate study and research: the PUCV mentions teaching in higher education, scientific advice to industry and work in research teams. The engineering programmes point to applied work: the Usach lists research and development companies, research laboratories, astronomical observatories, mining companies, the health sector and universities as employers of its graduates.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a physics degree take in Chile?

A Licenciatura en Física takes 8 or 9 semesters, depending on the university. Programmes that add a professional title in engineering physics take 5 to 6 years.

Can I study physics in Chile in English?

The degree programmes described here are taught in Spanish. Some include English courses in the curriculum, but Spanish is needed to follow the classes.

Do international students need to take the PAES?

Not always. Regular admission is based on the PAES, but universities such as UC Chile and the UV have special admission routes for applicants who completed secondary school abroad. The foreign school certificate must be recognised by the Chilean Ministry of Education.

Can I specialise in astronomy?

Yes. The UV and the PUCV offer their physics degrees with a specialisation (mención) in astronomy.